The "inventor
of tragedy" was born in Attica, and was the first prize winner at the Great
Dionysia in 534 BC. He was an important innovator for the theatre, since he
intoduced such things as the independent actor, as opposed to the choir, as
well as masks, make up and costumes.

Thespis walked around Athens pulling a handcart, setting up a kind of one
man plays, where he showed the bad behaviour of man. The word for actor "
thespian" comes from his name. His contemporary Solon resented him, with the
explanation that what he showed on stage soon would be acted out in reality
as well.